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Admissions
The most important part of the admissions process is gathering as much accurate and useful information as possible. This information is crucial for the RTM Treatment Team (consisting of the Program Director, therapists, supervisors and the Special Education Coordinator) to assess the appropriateness of a referral and to allow the team to make a good decision about whether RTM can help a particular student.
The following process is used to determine which referrals RTM can help and are appropriate for admission to RTM:
1. Inquiries regarding placement at RTM are directed to one of the therapists or to the Director for an initial screening. This is generally a phone contact.
2. Any referral who seems appropriate after the initial screening is requested to send us a recent (within the last 6 months) psychological evaluation, social summary (if available), school records pertaining to behavior and performance, and any other relevant materials such as previous placement reports, police reports, etc.
3. Upon receiving these materials, the RTM Treatment Team reviews and discusses these materials.
4. If possible, an interview with the child and his family is arranged. If this is not possible, phone contact will be made with the parents to gain their perspective on the child's issues and possible placement.
5. Previous service providers are contacted for their perspective of the student's issues and prognosis.
6. The Treatment Team reviews all the input RTM receives and makes the decision of whether or not we believe placement at RTM would be beneficial for the student.
7. A therapist or the Director will call the referral source to inform them of the Treatment Team's decision. If the student is accepted, a time and date will be set for an intake and a packet of admission materials will be sent to the appropriate individuals. This packet of information contains important forms that need to be filled out before a student can be admitted into the program.
RTM can be a helpful program for many boys. Our program and staff are trained and geared to work with a broad range of treatment issues. Unfortunately due to the nature of many of our program's components, there are some boys that are inappropriate for placement at RTM. RTM is willing to review each referral independently.
Qualities which are generally inappropriate include:
- History of violent episodes that have required physical or medical restraints
- Developmental limitations that make it difficult to learn from discussion therapy groups
- Being under 12 years of age
- Having a psychiatric condition that has not been stabilized by medication
- A need for substance detoxification
- A major medical problem that has not been stabilized
Accredited by the Association for Experiential Education.